Leigh Academy Rainham is a mixed 11-18 comprehensive school with excellent facilities on the edge of Rainham, Kent. The new school is built on a greenfield site and its impact on the local heritage and environment were key considerations for the planning authority.
The site was located close to residential properties which required close engagement with the public and restricted working to avoid disruption. Having successfully completed a similar project at Bearsted, Kent, Gallagher Ltd was appointed specialist groundwork subcontractor, carrying out a package of works including:
- Site-wide cut-and-fill works to provide new levels for hard landscaping works and sports pitches.
- Two below-ground attenuation tanks totalling 1,525m3.
- Reinforced concrete foundations totalling over 1,000m3 of structural concrete and 120 tonnes of reinforcement fixed on site.
- Ground floor slab totalling over 1,100m3 of reinforced concrete and 220 tonnes of reinforcement fixed on site.
- S278 works including a new roundabout on a busy residential road, working with and around statutory service providers.
- Accelerated external hard landscaping to provide contractor parking, site access and circulatory routes, reducing on-street parking and disruption in neighbouring residential streets.
All stone, aggregates and concrete were supplied by Gallagher Aggregates Ltd. This integrated approach enabled us to deliver the 600mm thick, 4,500m2 pile mat ahead of schedule, allowing piling to begin two weeks early. We also accelerated our deep drainage and attenuation tank installation before other trades started on site. This meant no deep excavation works were in progress while the main build was under way, and also enabled us to provide ample storage space for materials.
The school was successfully completed to the agreed programme to allow for a September intake.